The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-07-07
CAUGHT IN A CORNER;

CAUUHI IN "A COkNEk:
"You will be caught in a corner one
OF these fine days, my pretty Sly.
Boots!"
Elizabeth Archleigh turned from
the hamper she was filling and looked
inquiringly toward her uncle.
"ln what way2 Not by you mo-
nopolizing everything philanthropic2
nor all the commodities Of charity"
she smiled in roguish retort.
She knew what his comment meant:
however; and the retort was designaed
to punish him for his attempt to
tease her:
The girl was sensitively reserved
almost to Notwithstanding
her charities, which were bountiful
and almost multitudinous.
Seemingly she was only q happy.
hearted; laughter-loving young lady;
somewhat impplsive, and OF a nature
neither profundly reflective nor intense
ly sympathetic. And it was her whim
not to disclose the graver depths be.
hind her gay and dimpling mask.
IL suppose" said Uncle Guy, shrug-
ging his jolly old shoulders and whist
ling softly beneath his shaggy gray mus
tache, II suppose that thrust means
you have put ME down in your black
list rs a penurious and misanthropic
old bachelor. Well, my dear, if ever !
do turn philanthropist, l shall de.
mand the credit of it, shall not hide
my light under a bushel, nor do my
charities as if a kindly deed were
something of which was half.
ashamed"
E|izabeth's fair cheeks crimsoned
slightly, the laughing blue eyes sober
ed in an instant.
Let not the left hand know what
the right doeth," she quoted hastily,
as if some quick feeling had touched
and Jared her gentle composure.
"You do not consider the power
OF example," her Uncle Guy continued
with a gravity which was not q char
acteristic. "Your example would
arouse Others to help the needy, il
you would do your good work openly
instead..of bestowing your aims and
encouragement surreptitiously, as it
WERE"
"ies, q Haunting OF banners and a
b'are OF trumpets will always gain a
following OF some sort, whether for
good or the reverse" Elizabeth re-
turned with a wi]ful toss of her hand.
some auburn head. "And if l should
advertise myself as a helper of the
needy l should be distracted by
petitions from everybody and
for everything; I should cry my.
self i'll listening to tales of woe, real or
fictitious. I shouldn't have q mo-
ment left to myself for sweet idleness;
shouldn't have q bit of time for
choosing my dresses, for my dancing,
for my gossiping and my party going,
and for the remainder of my necessi-
ties"
'Gossiping, dancing and sweet idle
ness are somewhat unique in the line
of necessities" said Uncle Guy, laugh
ing heartily rs he glanced at the fair
faCe. which was as solemn and in
scruSable as that of the sphinx itself.
IF should label myself with my
pet whims," Elizabeth pursued as she
industriously crammed and packed
the big hamper, II should have no
end Of people initiating the same
whims, perhaps, so l should think
ho++o. ~ +hoc, +l,,, Alo,, 1o.o.,.
And I prefer to Judge people by what
they are-not by what they would
assume to be just to please me-"
"Ah, see! You don't purpose
taking inflated stock nor giving any
definite quotations of your own.
You take all the points and give none;
but you may be caught in q corner
for all that, my fair sly-boots," her
uncle repeated.
Don't be absurd, Uncle Guy" said
she, looking halfvexed at his raillery
This keen-eyed, facetious old gentle
man had evidently guessed q motive
in her pet whim and his banter had
disturbed her equanimity at the mo-
ment.'
Just then there was g. jangle and q
clash of sleigh bells, stopping suddenly
ut the curb before the house; the next
instant the front door gong changed
there was the sound of q familiar voice
in the hall above; and then she was
summoned to the drawing-room where
the visitor awaited her coming.
Elizabeth knew who that visitor
her fair cheeks, and swift light in he,
lovely eyes as she went slowly up tc
meet him.
The girl had long ago decided that
she could love Julius Keith with hel
whole heart, and for all time, only HI
seemed so sadly lacking in the one su
preme attribute which must distin
guish the man whom she would choose
to wed.
Ii Julius Keith were only a little more
benevolently inclined, if he only show
ed disposition to sympathlze with
the s0rroving, to tighten the burdens
Of tho oppressed, and brighten the
gloom of the destitute, he would have
fulfilled her ideal of all which seemed
to her noble and manly.
But he had never yet manifested
that indispensable quality of her per
feet ideal.
"Unfortunate people often caused
their own misfortunes; it was in many
instances the bad management of tn,
poor which made their poverty; thu
existing condition of things might pos
sibly be bettered; but how, was &
problem he was not wise enough tt
solve" Mr.. Keith would say when thu
topic was mentioned.
And it was topic too, he never
seemed eager to discuss, and one which
he often ended abruptly or by q jest
Perhaps he was not unfeeline; perhaps
he was not consciously irreverent ir
the jest. But all the Same Elizabeth
sighed and was troubled over what
seemed such q grievous defect of heart
and mind.
She would never trust her love ir
the keeping of q man who had neither
pity nor aid for them who had fallen
behind in the race Of life; that she had
firmly resolved.